IN the first chapter of Genesis the glory and majesty of divine Mind, the power and dominion of Mind's perfect ideas, are clearly and simply set forth. The light of infinite intelligence is seen to shine over all the works wrought by divine Love, revealing good as the prevailing power. All the ideas of God are pronounced useful, fruitful, complete, immortal. Nothing can ever enter this creation to mar or blemish its perfection, for divine Principle governs it in perfect harmony.
Beginning with the sixth verse of the second chapter of Genesis there is presented an account of creation which is the opposite of the first account. In the first account creation begins with light; in the second, with a mist—with obscuration. In the first account there is an orderly unfoldment of creation, leading up to man who reflects God-given dominion; in the second, creation apparently begins with a weak man who needs the support of a woman made from his rib. In the first account all is declared to be good; in the second, part is pronounced harmful. The second chapter of Genesis makes mention of two trees: one, the tree of life, the fruit of which is profitable; the other, the tree of knowledge of good and evil, significant of the unscientific, ignorant sense of life, the fruit of which bears only the seed of its own destruction.
According to the third chapter of Genesis, a serpent enters the scene of this material or unscientific sense of life and suggests that there is not death, but pleasure and profit, in partaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. To intrigue mortals into believing that mind is in matter, life in the body, has been the endeavor of the serpent, corporeal sense, from that time to this. An account of the dire results of believing the serpent follows. The purpose for which the Scriptures were written is thus indicated in these three chapters of Genesis. It was to reveal the harmony and dominion inhering in God as the only power, and the shame and misery attendant upon the false belief of life or intelligence in matter.
